Aiden sat in his large living room, the room illuminated by soft lighting in the background. A glass of red wine was in his hand, and he swirled the liquid slowly, enjoying the aroma before taking another sip. Despite the success of the day, his mind still wandered over recent events. He was exhausted, physically and mentally, but there was a sense of satisfaction that he could not ignore.
The sound of a notification on his cell phone broke the silence. He raised his eyebrows, irritated.
"I have no peace," he muttered, placing the glass on the table and picking up the device.
When he answered the call, a melodious female voice filled the room:
"Aiden, dear, it's been a while!"
Aiden immediately relaxed, recognizing the unmistakable tone of Nicoly, one of his most persistent acquaintances. He smiled slightly, almost amused.
"Good morning to you too, Nicoly."
On the other end, she laughed.
"Hahaha, you're still as direct as ever. What are you doing? Your friends are going out today, and I thought it would be good to get you out of your boring routine."
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as he considered the proposal.
"Sure. What time and where should I pick you up?"
"Nine. I'll be waiting here at home, and you know I don't like being late, huh?"
Aiden laughed softly.
"Understood. I'll be there."
Nicoly hung up without further ado, leaving Matthew with his glass of wine in his hand. He sighed, looking out the large window in the living room, which overlooked the view of the city lit up at night.
"Sometimes I wonder how I fall for these things..."
He took another sip of wine before standing up and walking to his room.
Aiden calmly got ready, choosing a casual yet elegant suit. The clock read 8:45 p.m. as he adjusted his tie and picked up his car keys. His expression was serious, but the slight smile on his lips indicated that he was curious about what the night had in store for him.
As he got into the car, the sound of the engine echoed through the garage. He checked Nicoly's address on the GPS, already memorized from so many previous visits, and sped through the busy city streets.
As he drove, his mind briefly returned to the financial attack on Mystic Corp. The drop in stocks had been a significant blow, but he knew that Angel and Lyco were not the type of adversaries who would stand still.
"If they're going to fight back, I hope they do it right."
A slight smile crossed his face as he turned the last corner, catching sight of the luxury building where Nicoly lived.
When he arrived, Nicoly was already waiting at the entrance of the building, wearing an elegant red dress that accentuated her striking presence. She smiled when she saw him get out of the car.
"Always punctual, aren't you?" she said, leaning in to give Aiden a kiss on the cheek.
"You said you don't like being late, so here I am," he replied, opening the car door for her.
Nicoly got in gracefully, and soon they were on their way to the restaurant where they would meet their other friends.
On the way, she glanced at him curiously.
"So, Aiden, how's business going? Still knocking your opponents out?"
Aiden laughed, but didn't answer right away. He knew Nicoly was perceptive, but he preferred to keep the details from her.
"Let's just say it's been an interesting week. What about you? Still charming the world with your presence?"
She laughed out loud.
"Always. But I think you do more damage than I do. Tell me more about this 'interesting business.'"
"Maybe after a drink or two."
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but decided to save the subject for later.
The restaurant was luxurious, with low lights and a lively atmosphere. There was already a group of friends waiting, all of whom Nicoly knew, and conversation flowed easily as the group ate dinner and toasted the evening.
Aiden, despite his reserved demeanor, allowed himself to relax a little. He knew he needed moments like these to keep his sanity amidst the constant pressure of the corporate world.
As Nicoly laughed at a joke one of his friends had told, Matthew glanced at his watch. For one night, he decided to enjoy the moment and leave his worries for later.
Leaving the restaurant after a lively conversation, Aiden and Nicoly got into the car and headed off somewhere else.
Aiden parked the car in front of the Eclipse Club, where luxury and sophistication met the controlled chaos of intense nights out. Nicoly looked out the window and smiled, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"First choice, Aiden. You still know how to impress."
"Only the best," he replied with a smirk, getting out of the car and handing the keys to the valet.
As they entered, they were immediately greeted by the club's manager, who greeted Matthew with deference.
"Mr. Baskerville, it's an honor to have you with us again. The VIP table is ready."
Nicoly gave Matthew a curious look.
"So you're already a regular here? Any stories I should know?"
"Nothing worth telling," he replied casually, guiding her down the neon-lit hallway adorned with modern art.
Eclipse Club was a spectacle for the senses. The main space was a huge room with a glass ceiling, where pulsating lights reflected off the central chandelier, creating a show of vibrant colors. The DJ, positioned on a raised stage, excited the crowd with a mix of house and EDM, while people danced without restraint on the dance floor.
The VIP tables were on a raised mezzanine, with a privileged view of the dance floor. Each table had black leather sofas and LED lights that changed color according to the music. Bottles of expensive champagne were already waiting at Matthew's table, served by impeccably dressed waiters.
Aiden and Nicoly took their seats, and soon the friends they had met at the restaurant began to arrive. The conversation flowed, interspersed with laughter and toasts. Nicoly was the center of attention, but Matthew, with his reserved posture and aura of power, attracted discreet glances, especially from some women on the lower floor.
"So, Aiden, shall we go down to the dance floor or are you going to stay up here like a king watching everything?" Nicoly teased, already holding a glass of champagne.
"You know I prefer to observe," he replied, but stood up when Nicoly tugged on his hand.
"Oh, no. Today you're going to mingle."
She dragged him to the dance floor, and soon they were surrounded by the vibrant energy of the crowd. The music was loud, the bass made the floor vibrate, and the lights created a visual spectacle that seemed to mesmerize everyone there.
Nicoly danced with the confidence of someone who knew everyone was watching. Aiden, despite normally preferring to stay on the sidelines, let himself be carried away by the energy of the moment, moving with surprising ease.
"You're better at this than I thought," Nicoly commented, smiling.
"Don't underestimate my skills," he replied, leaning in to speak close to her ear because of the loud music.
As the night progressed, other friends joined them, forming a small circle in the center of the dance floor. Bottles of drinks were brought directly from the bar, and toasts were made every few minutes.
After almost an hour of dancing, the group returned to the VIP table, now more lively. Aiden sat back down in his observation seat, while Nicoly continued to chat animatedly with the others.
"Did you like the dance floor?" she asked, sitting down next to him and pouring them both another glass of champagne.
"It was fun, but I prefer the comfort of here."
She laughed.
"Always so practical."
As they drank, Aiden noticed a man downstairs looking at them repeatedly. He narrowed his eyes, recognizing the face of someone connected to Lyco's circle.
"Problems?" Nicoly asked, noticing the change in her expression.
"No, nothing worth ruining the night over," he replied, but kept his eyes open.
A little after midnight, the DJ announced a special set, and the dance floor exploded with renewed energy. Nicoly, always cheerful, tried again to drag Aiden to the center of the crowd, but he politely declined this time.
"I'll stay here and enjoy the view, but go have fun."
She rolled her eyes, but complied, disappearing among the lights and the deafening sound.
Aiden took advantage of the relative silence at the VIP table to survey the crowd below. He knew that in places like this, alliances could be made and destroyed in a matter of minutes.
His cell phone vibrated, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was a message from Ada:
"Sir, we have news about the attack on the market. Reports will be sent in the morning."
He replied quickly:
"Great. Await instructions."
It was after two in the morning when Nicoly returned to the table, visibly tired, but still smiling.
"Satisfied?" Aiden asked, helping her sit down.
"Very much. And you? Still the same mysterious person as always?"
"Just enjoying myself in my own way," he replied with a half smile.
A little while later, the group began to disperse. Aiden and Nicoly were the last to leave, walking to the car as the city began to slow down.
"Thanks for today, Aiden. It was fun as always."
It was my pleasure."
He dropped her off at home, and as he drove back to his mansion, his thoughts were already back to business.